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Senators back solar tariffs, oppose prairie bird safeguards

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a measure Wednesday that would reinstate tariffs on solar panel imports from several Southeast Asian countries after President Joe Biden paused them in a bid to boost solar installations in the U.S. Lawmakers also approved a separate plan to undo federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a rare grouse that’s found in parts of the Midwest and Southwest, including one of the country’s most prolific oil and gas fields.The two measures are part of efforts by newly empowered Republicans to rebuke the Democratic president and block some of his administration’s initiatives, particularly on the environment. Republicans control the House and have strong sway in the closely divided Senate, where California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein remains out for health reasons and conservatives such as Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., often side with the GOP.Congress voted earlier this year to block a clean water rule imposed by the Environmental Protec...

North Carolina House OKs ban on transgender youth surgeries

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Transgender youth in North Carolina would have to wait until they turn 18 to receive gender-affirming surgeries under a bill approved Wednesday by the GOP-controlled state House.House lawmakers passed the proposal, which would prohibit doctors from performing surgeries on minors to remove or alter features typical of a patient’s sex assigned at birth, after allowing little time this week for members of the public to testify in committees.Following the 74-44 House vote for passage, the bill now heads to the Senate, where Republicans hold a similar veto-proof majority. Two House Democrats — Reps. Michael Wray of Northampton County and Garland Pierce of Scotland County — and all Republicans voted yes.The proposed measure, which would take effect Oct. 1, also bans using state funds to perform any gender-affirming procedure on a patient younger than 18, which could also restrict access to some hormone treatments and other medications.If it becomes law, North Carolina...

Gordon Lightfoot public visitation set for Sunday in Orillia, Ont.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

TORONTO — A public visitation for Gordon Lightfoot is scheduled for Sunday in the folk singer’s Orillia, Ont., hometown.The family of the late Canadian musician, who died Monday at 84, says people can pay their respects at St. Paul’s United Church from 1 to 8 p.m.A private funeral will be held at a later date in Orillia where Lightfoot will be buried.The death notice provided by the family calls Lightfoot “one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of his generation” and a “national treasure.”It describes Lightfoot’s songs as having “become part of the Canadian cultural fabric, earning him legions of fans at home and around the globe.”Memorial donations can be made to the United Way at the Mundell Funeral Home in Orillia.Messages of condolence can be left at mundellfuneralhome.com, where service details are posted.After Lightfoot’s death on Monday, Orillia residents began placing flowers at a bronze statue of the singer ...

Border officers in Vancouver find cat in parcel from China: SPCA

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

VANCOUVER — A cat the British Columbia SPCA says was mysteriously found in a parcel from China is now in foster care recovering from its apparent ordeal. The SPCA says in a statement it’s unclear how long the cat spent in transit, however it appeared healthy but scared. Binder Kooner, chief of operations for Canada Border Services Agency, says officers at the Vancouver International Mail Centre found the cat after noticing a sizable hole in the box and looking inside to see a pair of blinking eyes.The society says the cat, which it named Precious Cargo, was brought directly to an emergency vet clinic and given a rabies shot.It says the cat was kept at the clinic for a week to stabilize before going to foster care, and received medication to help stimulate its appetite.The SPCA says the cat’s new foster mom plans on officially adopting Precious once she has fully recovered.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023.The Canadian Press

Man was killed by chokehold on NYC subway, examiner says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who had been shouting at people aboard a New York City subway train died after fellow riders tackled him and one put him in a chokehold that lasted until his body went limp, according to police officials and video of the encounter.Jordan Neely, 30, died from compression of the neck, the city’s medical examiner determined Wednesday.Neely is recognizable to some New Yorkers as a Michael Jackson impersonator who regularly danced in the Times Square transit hub. On Monday afternoon, he was yelling and pacing back and forth on an F train in Manhattan, witnesses and police said, when he was restrained by at least three people, including a U.S. Marine veteran who pulled one arm tightly around his neck.Video of the altercation posted online by a freelance journalist showed the man lying beneath Neely, holding him in a headlock position for several minutes as Neely tried and failed to break free. A second passenger pinned Neely’s arms while a third person held dow...

New Mexico St player to AP: ‘I can’t put my trust in people’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

New Mexico State fans couldn’t wait to see if William Benjamin Jr. — the player known as “Deuce” — could take the Aggies back to March Madness, and maybe even to the Sweet 16 the way his dad did back in the day.But the best high school player in the state, and the most celebrated recruit in years at the college where his dad was once a star, never got on the court for the Aggies. Today, he says a violence-filled year at his dream school has left him angry, distrustful and isolated. Benjamin and former teammate Shak Odunewu spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday about their time at New Mexico State, which led them to file a lawsuit alleging they were ganged up on and sexually assaulted by their teammates.Odunewu, who says he was assaulted himself, also says coaches did nothing when he offered them an eyewitness account of Benjamin being assaulted by three players.“I used to have respect for people,” Benjamin told the AP in an interview that came a few hours after an emoti...

Wyoming mayor: Sorry for fiery abortion clinic Facebook post

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A new abortion clinic in deeply conservative Wyoming is stirring strong emotions, with the mayor of the state’s second-biggest city apologizing for a Facebook post some said evoked an arson attack that delayed the clinic’s opening by almost a year.The post was intended to suggest hellfire, not violence, Casper Mayor Bruce Knell said in a long and at times tearful statement in which he apologized to the city’s residents.“In poor taste, I made a comment that I feel was misinterpreted. I did not put a picture of a burning building. I didn’t do that. I put a picture of a guy dancing in a fire because in my religious beliefs: When you sin against God, you get to go to hell unless you repent,” Knell said at the close of a city council meeting Tuesday where more than a dozen people spoke for and against the clinic.Wyoming lawmakers have passed a law banning abortion except in cases of rape or incest reported to police, or when the mother’s life is in...

Illinois lawmakers push back on library book bans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois lawmakers greenlighted a bill Wednesday that says libraries in the state must adopt an anti-book banning policy to receive state funding, in a vote that fissured along party lines.The measure, spearheaded by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, represents a counter-movement to growing efforts to restrict books on topics such as race, gender and sexuality in schools and libraries across the United States.The legislation has passed both chambers and now heads to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said he looks forward to signing it. Indiana bill could make book banning in schools easier “This landmark legislation is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment rights, and most importantly, a great victory for future generations to come,” said Giannoulias in a news conference Wednesday after HB 2789 cleared the Senate in a party-line vote.In order to be eligible for state funding, the bill requires libraries to adopt the Am...

CPD issues community alert after string of church break-ins in Englewood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Some South Side churches are shoring up their security after police issued a community alert following a string of burglaries. Since March, three separate break-ins have been reported at churches in the 6900 block of S. Stewart Ave., in Englewood. While police did not specify which churches were targeted, the offenders allegedly broke in through side windows and/or the back door.   Aurora man accused of hurling death threats at Pritzker According to police, the incidents took place:March 16-20 between 12 a.m. - 8 a.m.   March 25-28 between noon - 1:30 p.m.  April 22-May 2 between 12 a.m. - 12 p.m. Repentance and Believe Holiness Outreach Ministries Church in Englewood is one of three churches located on the block. In response to the break-ins, Pastor Felicia Cobb told WGN News that "enough is enough.""We're tired of the breaking in of churches," Cobb added. "What are you going to get? We don't have money in the church. We're here to help souls be saved."Read more: Latest...

4 horse deaths at Churchill Downs under investigation ahead of Kentucky Derby

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:27:32 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The death of four horses at Churchill Downs over a span of five days has overshadowed preparations for the Kentucky Derby.Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed on the track and died over the past week. Two other horses also died as either a result of racing or training, including Derby entrant Wild On Ice.Joseph is set to saddle Lord Miles in the first jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday. But he has said he’s unsure of plans after the two deaths from his barn.Churchill Downs Racetrack, in a statement Wednesday, expressed concern over the deaths and said officials would press for answers. Kentucky Derby: What are the requirements for horse names? “While a series of events like this is highly unusual, it is completely unacceptable,” Churchill Downs said. “We take this very seriously and acknowledge that these troubling incidents are alarming and must be addressed. We feel a tremendous responsibility to our fans, the participants in our sport and ...